DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 14, 2023) – Powered by a complete game shutout from senior Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) and a team-high four RBI on the day from senior Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra), the Mercy College softball team earned 7-0 and 5-4 wins over ECC foe Queens College on Friday afternoon at Smith Field.
The Mavericks (10-24, 5-7 ECC) have won three games in a row, while the Knights (7-25, 4-8 ECC) have dropped three games in a row.
Game 1: Mercy 7, Queens 0
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Victoria Seppala (Abington, Mass./Abington) was hit by a pitch and later scored on a senior Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) RBI single to make it 1-0.
The Mavericks increased the lead to 2-0 in the third inning. Freshman Cayla Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley) singled and stole second before scoring on a Franck RBI single.
The score stayed 2-0 until the fifth inning when Mercy scored two runs on solo home runs by Crawford and Franck to make it 4-0.
Mercy plated three more runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Franck brought home the first run on an RBI single to make it 5-0. Johnston brought home the final two runs on a two-run double to left center, making it 7-0.
Benson pitched a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the shutout win.
Franck went 3-for-3 with three RBI and her fifth home run of the season and Crawford went 2-for-3 with an RBI and her fourth home run of the season. Johnston went 2-for-4 with three RBI and senior Nicole Smart (Santa Clarita, Calif./Golden Valley) went 1-for-4. Benson allowed just five hits and struck out six to earn her fourth win of the season.
Queens was led by Caroline Pescatore who went 2-for-3. Dyana Budakowski allowed three earned runs in 4.1 innings to take the loss.
Mercy had eight hits and one error and Queens had five hits and one error.
Game 2: Mercy 5, Queens 4
Queens took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The score stayed 2-0 until the third inning when Mercy scored a run to make it 2-1. Senior Hailey Puglia (Holtsville, N.Y./Assumption University) led off the inning with a walk and later scored after Franck reached on a fielder's choice.
The Knights took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on a Budakowski RBI single. Mercy inched closer in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Elizabeth Stark (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) singled and scored on a Smart RBI single to make it 3-2.
Mercy took the lead in the fifth inning with three runs to take a 5-3 lead. Junior Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) and Crawford singled and both would score after Johnston reached on an error by the pitcher to make it 4-3. Johnston later scored on a passed ball to give Mercy a 5-3 lead.
The Knights plated a run in the seventh inning to make it 5-4, but senior Angelina Oquendo (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) got a fly out to center with the bases loaded to give Mercy the sweep.
Smart went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Crawford went 2-for-3. Stark, Sisco and Seppala all went 1-for-3. Freshman Marina Provencio (Saugus, Calif./Saugus) allowed two earned runs in 6.2 innings to earn her fourth win of the season. Oquendo recorded one out to pick up the save.
Queens was led by Pescatore who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Allyson Dilday allowed no earned runs in six innings to take the loss.
Mercy had six hits and two errors and Queens had seven hits and three errors.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, April 16th when they play at Felician at 2 p.m.
